Ok this is a serious question. If you want to dick around go hang out in Baims thread please.

I tried doing a search for info on the Sports 850, and kinda came up a little blank, it doesn't look like there has been a thread on the history and features of the car...

Sports850 (the ausmini member not the car) mentioned that they were a homologation special.. does that mean that they were raced?

Also appart from the Fantastic badge and twin carbies was there anything else about the car that made it special? Special cam or anything? Bigger valves? Extractors? Did they do away with the oil fed primary gear and spring clutch for this model? Any interior enhancements?

I don't have any solid info on this model,, more just little bits here and there.
So I'm just out to sponge for a bit.

Best bet is to get a hold of issue 3 (I think it is) of "The Mini Experience" which has the full story . They were a standard 850 engine with the twin manifold and an extra carb , though it appears some had extractors as well . The head/cam etc was all standard as the main thing was Peter Manton and others were being disqualified running 850's in Australia with twin carbs as there was no local version sold with twin carbs so he approached BMC to release the cooper as mentioned in the other thread . The extra carb (it was a second standard 850 1 1/2" SU and both carbs ran the same needle as a single carbed 850) really improved the performance on a standard 850 though the brakes were still the normal single leading shoe type ....

My photobucket is playing up at the moment but I will post scans of the magazine article later from the release of them .

_________________

Working now ,

_________________

Thanks for the trouble there sports850.

Gees that extra carby made a huge difference hey? "knocked a whole nine seconds off the 0-60 acceleration time. Maximum speed went up 7 miles perhour!..."

I think I get the appeal a bit too, they seem like a bit of an under dog model.

I like em . A Rare piece of Australian motoring history,somewhat misunderstood by the one eyed masses

That is correct, Issue 3 of The Mini Experience




Er....I think you mean 1 1/4" SU, but yes, the standard type, so the fuel bowls were on the same side, not like on the Cooper models which had the fuel bowls on the outside of both carbs (so left and right).

Cheers,
Watto.

Interestingly, they still quote the 34HP that the stock 850 had. It must have had more neddies though, to be 7MPH faster and accelerate harder.

I used to work on a friend's one back in the 60s and yes they did go a lot harder. But so did my 850 (with the same twin carby setup).

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Maybe it's a placebic effect.

It's like putting a louder exhaust on... Say willy's Jun BL

It instantly makes the car feel new..


..for about a week

_________________

Or until the first speed hump wasn't it?

_________________

Good one Kev...

Seriously though Cush, an 850 goes harder with twin HS2s, than with 1 on that crap original manifold.

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

You know watto , at the time i was typing that i was thinking don't type 1 1/2 , don't type 1 1/2 ...

_________________

This is content of a genuine typed letter I have, this is from a friend that had an 850 at the time. There is no date on the letter but as the prices are in pounds, that would make it prior 1966.

MONARO MOTORS PTY LTD
AUTOMOTIVE CARBURETTOR(SU) PTY LTD

250 Grant Street.
Soth Melbourne

Telephone 69 6128 Telegrams
"Autocarbs".
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your enquiry for the information on the twin carburettor conversion for the Morris 850. Enclosed is a copy of the road test for the Sports 850 whish is fitted with this conversion, and has the full approval of the British Motor Corporation (Australia) Pty Ltd.,

The price of the kit is made up as follow:-
Manifold with linkages, fuel lines, instructions etc. 10 16 8
Extra carburettor (fitted withBX1 needle) 16 15 10
Pair of Sports Air Cleaners 4 1 3
BX1 needle for original carburettor 8 5
Total Cost _______________
L 32 2 2
_______________
The above prices include sales tax.

In addition to twin carburettors we can also supply the following special equipment.
Finned alloy rocker cover 5 16 8
Twin pipe muffler 4 5 3
Monaro sports camshaft (changeover) 9 0 0
Inner valve springs 1 0 4 a set

As specialists in preparing the Morris 850 for competition, we are also in a position to quote on other modifications to increase the power output.

Yours faithfully,



Peter Manton

The enclosed copy of the road test is the same photos & literature as posted on previous postings on this thread,

It's 34 BHP....

At that power I doubt any originals exist because the engine would have been ripped out a long time ago....

_________________
Regards,

Mike
"He who dies with the most toys wins."

34BHP my arse... I reckon they were more like 39-40, they blew Deluxes away (just)
Yep I've driven both way back when...

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Thanks sports and watto. And thanks Gezo, that letter is a gem! Your lucky to have it! Thanks for sharing

edit--> Doc, they really that good? Pretty impresive for a little 850 It sounds like "The Little Mini That Could"